Originally Posted by
JamesNoBrakes
Not exactly, if it goes as far as an NTSB hearing, the NTSB judge could have ordered his certificate revoked/suspended. It's happened before where the NTSB judge orders something far beyond what the FAA was even asking for, based on the case/evidence/testimony. It can go both ways if it goes that far, a ruling in favor of the airman and the entire FAA case dropped, or a ruling of action exceeding what the FAA thought they were "safe" asking for.
I did think of the NTSB hearing but I'm not as familiar with that side.
What is the threshold of a case going in front of the NTSB judge. Is it just the next/final step in an appeal process that is available to any and all enforcement actions?